James Worthy vs. Cody Zeller Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Cody Zeller and James Worthy, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

James Worthy played 12 years in the NBA, 1 more than Cody Zeller, who played 11. James Worthy had the first of his seasons in 1982-83, while Cody Zeller had his rookie season in 2013-14. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
James Worthy 12 9 1982-83 to 1993-94
Cody Zeller 11 3 2013-14 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1982-832013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Bobcats
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayBobcats Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 77 25.6 13.4 2.0 3.1 5.2 1.7 1.2 0.8 2.3 2.9 5.8 10.0 .579 0.0 0.1 .250 1.8 2.9 .624
Cody Zeller 82 17.3 6.0 1.4 2.9 4.3 1.1 0.5 0.5 1.1 2.1 2.1 4.9 .426 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.4 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy ------- --- ----------
Cody Zeller 4 13.3 2.0 1.3 1.0 2.3 0.5 0.0 0.8 0.5 0.8 0.8 2.3 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 2

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1983-842014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 82 29.5 14.5 1.9 4.4 6.3 2.5 0.9 0.9 2.2 3.0 6.0 10.9 .556 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.1 .759
Cody Zeller 62 24.0 7.6 1.6 4.3 5.8 1.6 0.5 0.8 1.0 2.5 2.8 6.0 .461 0.0 0.0 1.000 2.0 2.6 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 21 33.7 17.7 1.7 3.3 5.0 2.7 1.3 0.5 1.9 2.7 7.8 13.0 .599 0.0 0.1 .500 2.0 3.3 .609
Cody Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 3

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1984-852015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 80 33.7 17.6 2.1 4.3 6.4 2.5 1.1 0.8 2.5 2.5 7.6 13.3 .572 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.1 .776
Cody Zeller 73 24.3 8.7 1.9 4.3 6.2 1.0 0.8 0.9 0.9 2.8 3.2 6.0 .529 0.0 0.1 .100 2.4 3.2 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 19 32.9 21.5 1.8 3.2 5.1 2.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 2.8 8.7 14.1 .622 0.1 0.1 .500 3.9 5.8 .676
Cody Zeller 7 19.6 8.4 1.3 4.0 5.3 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.0 2.9 3.0 5.4 .553 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.0 .810

Season 4

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1985-862016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 75 32.7 20.0 1.8 3.3 5.2 2.7 1.1 1.0 2.0 2.6 8.4 14.5 .579 0.0 0.2 .000 3.2 4.2 .771
Cody Zeller 62 27.8 10.3 2.2 4.4 6.5 1.6 1.0 0.9 1.0 3.0 4.1 7.1 .571 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.2 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 14 38.5 19.6 1.6 3.1 4.6 3.2 1.1 0.7 2.6 3.1 8.6 15.5 .558 0.0 0.3 .000 2.3 3.4 .681
Cody Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 5

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1986-872017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 82 34.4 19.4 1.9 3.8 5.7 2.8 1.3 1.0 2.0 2.5 7.9 14.7 .539 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.7 .751
Cody Zeller 33 19.0 7.1 2.0 3.3 5.4 0.9 0.4 0.6 1.0 2.5 2.6 4.7 .545 0.1 0.1 .667 1.8 2.6 .718
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 18 37.8 23.6 1.7 3.9 5.6 3.5 1.6 1.2 2.2 2.3 9.8 16.6 .591 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.4 .753
Cody Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 6

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1987-882018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 75 35.4 19.7 1.7 3.3 5.0 3.9 1.0 0.7 2.1 2.3 8.2 15.5 .531 0.0 0.2 .125 3.2 4.1 .796
Cody Zeller 49 25.4 10.1 2.2 4.6 6.8 2.1 0.8 0.8 1.3 3.3 3.9 7.0 .551 0.1 0.4 .273 2.3 2.9 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 24 37.3 21.1 2.2 3.6 5.8 4.4 1.4 0.8 2.3 2.4 8.5 16.3 .523 0.0 0.4 .111 4.0 5.3 .758
Cody Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 7

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1988-892019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 81 36.5 20.5 2.1 4.0 6.0 3.6 1.3 0.7 2.2 2.2 8.7 15.8 .548 0.0 0.3 .087 3.1 4.0 .782
Cody Zeller 58 23.1 11.1 2.8 4.3 7.1 1.5 0.7 0.4 1.3 2.4 4.3 8.3 .524 0.3 1.3 .240 2.1 3.1 .682
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 15 40.0 24.8 2.5 4.3 6.7 2.8 1.2 1.1 2.2 2.4 10.2 18.0 .567 0.2 0.5 .375 4.2 5.3 .788
Cody Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 8

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1989-902020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 80 37.0 21.1 2.0 4.0 6.0 3.6 1.2 0.6 2.0 2.4 8.9 16.2 .548 0.2 0.6 .306 3.1 4.0 .782
Cody Zeller 48 20.9 9.4 2.5 4.4 6.8 1.8 0.6 0.4 1.1 2.5 3.8 6.8 .559 0.1 0.6 .143 1.8 2.5 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 9 40.7 24.2 1.2 4.3 5.6 3.0 1.6 0.3 2.4 2.0 10.0 20.1 .497 0.2 0.9 .250 4.0 4.8 .837
Cody Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 9

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1990-912021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 78 38.6 21.4 1.4 3.2 4.6 3.5 1.3 0.4 1.6 1.5 9.2 18.7 .492 0.3 1.2 .289 2.7 3.4 .797
Cody Zeller 27 13.1 5.2 1.9 2.8 4.6 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.7 2.1 1.9 3.3 .567 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 1.8 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 18 40.7 21.1 1.4 2.7 4.1 3.9 1.1 0.1 2.2 1.9 8.9 19.2 .465 0.2 1.3 .167 2.9 4.0 .736
Cody Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 10

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1991-922022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 54 39.0 19.9 1.8 3.8 5.6 4.7 1.4 0.4 2.4 1.6 8.3 18.6 .447 0.2 0.8 .209 3.1 3.8 .814
Cody Zeller 15 14.5 6.5 1.7 2.6 4.3 0.7 0.2 0.3 0.9 2.2 2.5 3.9 .627 0.0 0.1 .000 1.6 2.3 .686
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy ------- --- ----------
Cody Zeller 21 8.3 2.2 0.5 1.8 2.3 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 1.3 1.0 1.7 .571 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .400

Season 11

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1992-932023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 82 28.8 14.9 0.9 2.1 3.0 3.4 1.1 0.3 1.7 1.1 6.2 13.9 .447 0.4 1.4 .270 2.1 2.6 .810
Cody Zeller 43 7.4 1.8 1.1 1.5 2.6 0.9 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.0 0.6 1.4 .419 0.0 0.1 .333 0.5 0.9 .605
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 5 29.6 13.8 1.4 2.0 3.4 2.6 1.0 0.0 1.4 2.2 6.4 17.2 .372 0.4 1.6 .250 0.6 1.0 .600
Cody Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 12

James Worthy Cody Zeller
Season 1993-94-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy 80 20.0 10.2 0.6 1.7 2.3 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.2 1.0 4.3 10.5 .406 0.4 1.4 .288 1.3 1.7 .741
Cody Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Worthy ------- --- ----------
Cody Zeller ------- --- ----------